Wilson School Board unanimously approves 2026–27 calendar, redistricting contract, $1.2M IDEA grant and a series of technology and operations purchases

The Wilson School Board on Jan. 12 approved its 2026–27 school calendar and a package of contracts and purchases intended to support enrollment planning, special-education services and facility upgrades.

The board approved superintendent items 4.1–4.6 and student service items 5.1–5.4 by roll call votes of 9–0. The package included adoption of the new calendar, a service agreement with Walport Inc. for a comprehensive redistricting and enrollment project (pending solicitor review), an IDEA B611 funding agreement with the BCIU totaling $1,217,468.14 to be used for special-education costs, and renewal of a contract with Conrad Weiser Decision School to serve one special-education student.

Superintendent Dr. Trickett told the board the district is changing how the calendar is presented to comply with the state’s hour-based requirement: “there is a certain number of hours, 990 hours in secondary schools and 900 hours in elementary schools, that we are required and expected to meet,” and the calendar adds an extra holiday on Dec. 23. He said the redistricting work with Walport (spelled Walport in the meeting packet) will prepare recommendations tied to the opening of Lincoln Park Elementary and respond to substantial recent housing development in the district.

The board also authorized a set of technology purchases (technology items 6.1–6.3), approved 9–0. The items listed in the agenda and passed by the board were: a contract with TWG Security to relocate and install additional security cameras districtwide at a total cost of $154,952.30; Aruba network switches for the high school performing arts center at $1,818,457.87; and network transceivers at $888.

Operations items 7.1–7.4 were approved together, also by a 9–0 roll call. Those items included an NPDES minor modification for Lincoln Park Elementary (Wooderline extension) payable to the BCCD for $1,444; additional services with Geotechnology Associates Inc. for $1,022; change order No. 1 with MyCo Mechanical for Southern Middle School in the amount of $4,196.42; and authorization to proceed with purchase and closing steps for a 38.22-acre parcel described in the agenda at 4540-51 State Hill Road in Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County (PIN as listed in the packet).

Finance items passed included approval to pay bills and adopt a 2026 mileage reimbursement rate of 72.5¢ per mile effective Jan. 1, 2026, turning unpaid 2025 school real estate tax bills over to the Berks County Tax Claim Bureau, advertising bids for the 2026–27 school year and approving budget transfers dated Dec. 2025.

The board also approved an affiliation agreement with Grand Canyon University (item 9.1) pending solicitor review and approval.

All formal motions noted on the agenda were approved unanimously during the meeting. The board’s actions were largely procedural and administrative; votes were recorded as roll-call tallies in the meeting transcript and each motion passed 9–0.

What’s next: per the superintendent’s remarks, redistricting work with Walport is expected to proceed over the coming months to inform boundary recommendations related to Lincoln Park Elementary and the district’s recent housing growth. The IDEA funds will be administered through the BCIU, as described in the agenda materials.

The meeting concluded with an enrollment report showing 6,329 students as of Jan. 8, 2026, a decrease of two from the prior report, and adjournment by motion of Bob Schneider.